State/Territory
Iowa
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Clayton County with the contiguous counties of Allamakee, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, and Winneshiek
Shortage Location - May Serve
Location Center
Elkader, IA 52043
VSGP Status
Open
VMLRP Status
(Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program)
Open
Priority of shortage
High
Fiscal year
Percent FTE
(Full Time Equivalent, based on a 40hr work week.)
55
Type of Shortage
(Veterinary Practice Area / Discipline / Specialty)
Type II Shortage: Private Practice – Rural Area Food Animal Medicine
Must serve
Beef Cattle
Dairy Cattle
Other Must Serve
May serve
Swine
Poultry
Small Ruminant
Other May Serve
Camelids, Equine
Employer
Position Title
Other disciplinary area
Carry Over
Nominator Name
Jeff Kaisand, DVM
Nominator Title
State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
515-281-0866
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
The objectives for a veterinarian would be to spend at least 55% of their time providing food animal veterinary services within a portion of this 7-county area. In Clayton County with the contiguous counties of Allamakee, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, and Winneshiek there are an estimated 2,144,715 animals of all major livestock species, according to the most recent USDA NASS census and data. Livestock are dispersed among an estimated 5,321 known registered premises. Approximately 60 mixed animal practitioners are serving in this area, which is a number that has decreased in the last two years. They are providing services to production animals including 416 licensed dairies, approximately 16,104 sheep, 15,511 goats and all other major livestock species. Supporting a food animal veterinarian in this area will provide critical production animal veterinary services, provide necessary regulatory services to producers and enhance the animal agriculture economy of the area. This underserved area also includes 4 major livestock markets that require veterinary services. VMLRP support will facilitate a recent graduate becoming financially sustainable in rural practice and retain them in this area.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
The services of the veterinarian would include the use of skills and knowledge acquired from veterinary college and learned from mentors. They would apply this skill set to diagnose, treat, perform surgical and obstetrical procedures, individual animal disease management, necropsies, prescribe appropriate drugs, conduct follow-ups and be available and responsive for emergency service. This will also include farm visits for herd health programs and support of state and federal disease surveillance testing programs and response to foreign animal diseases. Veterinary practice services may also include work at auction markets and exhibitions such as county fairs or local district livestock shows. The veterinarian should be able to manage day-to-day business activities and work responsibly with office personnel. To become integrated into the community, the veterinarian may become involved in a local service and/or governmental organization or local board of health leadership. The veterinarian should be willing to work with local 4-H and/or FFA youth sharing information about animal care, nutrition, animal health, biosecurity practices, public health, and promotion of the veterinary profession. The veterinarian should become involved with organized veterinary medical associations, be active in obtaining veterinary continuing education and maintain a connection with the veterinary college.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
In the last two years, 3 applications have been submitted for the VMLRP in this shortage area. Data from 2023 indicates that many of the veterinary clinics in this area have reposted advertisements seeking veterinarians, as applicants were not able to be hired. Clinics hiring in this area are also offering competitive pay and benefits, including 401K, cell phone coverage, CE allowance, and practice ownership in order to attract potential candidates. Due to high student loan payments, it is difficult to attract and retain veterinarians aspiring to be established permanently in a rural setting.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
Sufficient veterinary involvement in food animal production systems provides critical steps in advancing animal and public health through disease prevention and treatment, including US FDA Veterinary Feed Directive requirements, adequate pre-harvest food practices, and surveillance, recognition and reporting of disease outbreaks. The proposed shortage area covers approximately 4,595 square miles with a livestock population of approximately 2,144,715 livestock, including nearly 2.1 million cattle and swine. Within this area, there are only 60 licensed food animal veterinarians currently, despite clinics seeking additional associates to keep up with a growing client base including numerous dairy and beef operations as well as equine and small ruminant cases. This county and its contiguous counties have an expanding livestock industry in an area that already has a high density of food animals, making it a high priority to have adequate veterinary services for disease management and profitable production. Concern has been expressed about being able to meet the needs of the food animal producers within this area. Food animal veterinarians are regarded by rural communities as knowledgeable professionals who are capable of early detection and reporting of diseases potentially causing negative impacts to livestock, public health and/or agricultural markets. Failure to secure and retain adequate veterinary infrastructure in an under-served area contributes to an unacceptable increase in risk of timely detection of diseases of severe economic impact and loss of timely care for livestock that are diseased or require emergency procedures, which in turn leads to an increase in livestock mortalities and increased producer costs. Food animal veterinarians provide an important knowledge base of animal health, public health, animal care and welfare, and livestock industries to the community they serve.
Community Aspects
This shortage area is located in Northeast Iowa, known as the hidden gem of Iowa, with two other states bordering nearby. Local attractions include rich historical and cultural experiences such as the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum; local hospitality of breweries, wineries, and farm-to-table restaurants; and endless outdoor adventures including hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Veterinarians would find opportunities to join both close-knit, rural communities with strong educational systems as well as urban communities with the amenities and events of a larger city, in one of the most affordable states to live in the nation.